Ohio State football: 3 major award candidates for the Buckeyes in 2022

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has to be near the front of the line to win the Biletnikoff

Even with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson leaving the Ohio State wide receivers room, the Buckeyes are in fantastic shape on that front. Not only has receivers coach Brian Hartline recruited at an absurd level, but junior Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the potential to be the first wideout taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. Though Jordan Addison is now at USC, Smith-Njigba could win the Biletnikoff.

While he has other elite receiving talents playing alongside him in Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and Marvin Harrison Jr., what an opportunity Smith-Njigba has ahead of him to be a position group leader on a serious national championship contender. Having potentially the No. 1 overall pick in next spring’s draft throwing him the ball will only help Smith-Njigba put up jaw-dropping numbers.

Ultimately, the Biletnikoff is one of the hardest individual honors to win annually. It goes to the best receiver, regardless of position group. If a tight end goes off, he could be in the mix to win it. Furthermore, more and more teams are going up-tempo spread, meaning they are rolling with 11 personnel, thus having three wideouts on every passing down. Smith-Njigba will have to earn it.

Projecting the next Biletnikoff winner is never easy, but Smith-Njigba could be it for the Buckeyes.